Rules in detail: junctions, crossing roads and compulsory stops

Junctions with a traffic island

What the rule says. Where two or more public roads meet and traffic must move around a traffic island inside the junction, you must yield the right of way to all vehicular traffic approaching from your right within that junction. The only exceptions are when your entry is controlled by an instruction from a traffic officer, or by a road traffic sign that requires you to act differently. In those cases you obey the officer or the sign instead.

Why it matters. A single, fixed give-way rule lets everyone predict who goes first, even when two cars arrive together.

In practice. You reach a circle and a car already in it is coming from your right: slow down, let it pass, and enter only when it is safe. If a traffic officer waves you through, follow the officer's signal, not the usual rule.

Key idea: Entering a traffic island junction, give way to vehicles coming from your right unless an officer or sign says otherwise.

Crossing and entering a public road

What the rule says. You may not cross a public road unless the road is clear of moving traffic for a sufficient distance, so that you can cross without obstructing or endangering any traffic. You may not enter a public road unless you can do so with safety to yourself and to other traffic. The manual gives no fixed distance; the test is whether anyone is obstructed or endangered.

Why it matters. Drivers on the road have right of way over you when you come from a driveway or are crossing, so the duty to wait is yours.

In practice. You are leaving a driveway and a car is approaching. Even if you could squeeze in ahead of it by hurrying, you must wait until you can cross or enter without forcing that driver to brake or swerve.

Key idea: Cross or enter a public road only when it is safe for you and for everyone else.

Compulsory stops

What the rule says. You must stop your vehicle when a road traffic sign conveys a direction to stop, or when a traffic officer in uniform gives you a direction to stop. You must also stop at the request or signal of a person leading or driving any bovine animal (cattle), horse, donkey, mule, sheep, goat, pig or ostrich on the road. When animals are seen crossing the road, you may move only when all the animals have crossed and the road is safe to continue.

Why it matters. Animals are unpredictable, and a stopped vehicle protects both the animals and the people with them.

In practice. A herder on a rural road lifts a hand to stop you while sheep cross. Stop, wait until the last sheep is across, check that the road is clear, and only then drive on.

Key idea: Stop for stop signs, uniformed officers, animal herders and crossing animals, and move only when all animals have crossed.

Pedestrian crossings: your duty

What the rule says. The driver or rider of a vehicle must yield right of way, and slow down or stop if necessary, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a pedestrian crossing. Whenever any vehicle has stopped at a pedestrian crossing, the driver or rider of any other vehicle may not pass the stopped vehicle.

Why it matters. A stopped vehicle may be hiding a pedestrian who is already on the crossing and whom you cannot see yet.

In practice. You approach a crossing and the car in the lane beside you has stopped, but you cannot see why. Stay behind it, do not overtake, and wait until it moves off. When a pedestrian is on the crossing in front of you, slow down or stop and let the person cross.

Key idea: Yield to pedestrians on a crossing and never pass a vehicle that has stopped at one.

The red man and green man signals

What the rule says. The red man light signal tells pedestrians that they may not cross at an intersection until the green man light signal is displayed. Pedestrians must stay stationary on the sidewalk until the green man is shown. If the red man flashes, pedestrians who have not yet entered the roadway must wait until the green man is displayed. Pedestrians who are already in the intersection must cross as quickly as possible.

Why it matters. Drivers need to know that people caught on the road when the signal changes are trying to get clear.

In practice. You are turning at a signalled intersection and the red man starts flashing while a person is still halfway across. Expect that pedestrian to hurry, and wait until the person is safely across.

Key idea: Red man: wait on the sidewalk; flashing red man: do not start, but finish crossing quickly if you are already on the road.

Quick recap

• At a junction around a traffic island, yield to vehicles approaching from your right
• A traffic officer's instruction or a road traffic sign overrides the give-way-to-the-right rule
• Cross a public road only when it is clear for a sufficient distance; enter only when it is safe
• Stop for signs, uniformed traffic officers and people leading or driving animals
• Do not pass a vehicle that has stopped at a pedestrian crossing
• Pedestrians already in the intersection when the red man flashes must cross as quickly as possible